Bracelet construction



Ef HAEFFNER BRACELET CONSTRUCTION May 2, 1939.l

Filed April 17, 1935 AlY j y k STM INVENToR ATTORNEY Patented May 2,1939 UNITED STATES BRACLET CONSTRUCTION Emil Haeilner, Newark, N. J.,asslgnor to Gemex Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication April rz, 1935, serial' No. 16,784

" s claims. (c1. 24-71) This invention relates to a bracelet construe#tion andmore particularly to a buckle characterized by a plurality offolding links or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- 5 vide a buckle whichwill be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another object is toprovide a device of the above character which may be manufactured frominexpensive materials at low labor cost. Another object is to provide adevice 10 of the above character in which the operating parts may beeasily assembled and in which the completed article is attractive inappearance. Another object is to provide a buckle of the above charactercapable of quick release to give a maX- l5 imum dimension to thebracelet while still effecting a very minute adjustment of the lengththereoi when so desired. Anotherobject is to provide a device of theabove character having a ngerpiece in a readily accessible position foropera- 20 tion. Another object is .to provide a device of the abovecharacter in which the various operating parts work with extreme ease sothat changes in the length of the bracelet may be conveniently eiected.Other objects will be in '25 part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified 3g in the structure to be hereinafter described, and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one o f the variouspossible embodiments 35 of this invention,

Figure l is a top plan view of my buckle with the links thereof inunfolded position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan -vieW of the buckle shown in Figure 1;

@ Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of my buckle with the links'ln foldedposition;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line l-l of Figure3, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken 45 along the line 5-5 ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a vlongitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the linet-t of Figure 2, and

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

To aord a clearer understanding o several of the features of thisinvention, some of the dim- 55 culties encountered in buckles of thisgeneral character now in use will be described. Some of these buckleshave no release for the pawl and ratchet when the links are' in foldedposition and accordingly if the wearer decides to increase the length ofthe bracelet is is necessary to unfold the links, resulting ininconvenience. Other buckles of this general character are provided withactuating apparatus such as ngerpieces so located that it is extremelydifficult to operate them when the bracelet i's in position on the wristof the wearer. Furthermore, many of these buckles are so complex instructure that it is very dii-heult to make the parts in properdimensions, and the problem of assembly thereof is also difficult. Theconstruction of many of these buckles is such that use thereof createsconsiderable wear and tear on the moving parts resulting in a shortlife. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device forovercoming these difficulties as well as many others.

Referring to Figure 1, my buckle comprises a housing link generallyindicated at l Within which is slidably mounted a sliding link generallyindicated at li. Preferably sliding link il is secured to one end i2 ofa bracelet generally indicated at I3 (only partially shown). Althoughend l2 of the bracelet may be secured to the sliding link in anyconvenient manner, I prefer to provide a slot lli adjacent the end ofsliding link ilA and a collar I extendingthrough the slot and fittingabout a cross-piece i6 of the end ofthe bracelet.

A link generally indicated at il in hingedly connected to housing linklil in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter, and a linkgenerally indicated at I8 is slidably mounted within link il. Hingedlyconnected to link it is a link generally indicated at it having its endsecured to the other end' 2d of the bracelet it. Preferably link i9 isconnected to end 2li Vby an eye portion 2l tting about the crosspiece 22of the end link. i

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 4, housing link lilpreferably comprises a top portion 23, longitudinal side walls 2li and25, and inwardly extending flange portions 2t and 2l spaced below topportion 23, as best seen in Figure 4. Thus the opposite sides of housinglink i6 take the form of longitudinal channels 2t and 29, channel 2tbeing bordered by top portion 23, side Wall 2t andange portion Z5, whilechannel 29 is bordered by top portion 23, side Wall 25 and flangeportion 2l.

Still referring to Figure li, the section of top portion 23substantiallyvdisposed between chanrassure nels 28 and 29 is bentoutwardly to form a longitudina zn'depression 30 within the housinglink. Aszib shown in Figures 4 and 5, a movable part generally indicatedat 3| is disposed within ly pin 35 not only serves' to hingedly connectlink |1to housing link Il) but also it secures part 3| withinliolusinglink i8 so that it is free to pivot in directions toward andaway from top portion IThe central portion of part 3| is cut away toform a longitudinal slot 38, as best shown in Figures 2 and 7, while theend portion of part 3| opposite pin 35 has secured thereto a pawl orcatch part 31. Preferably catch part 31 is an upturned cut out portionof part 3| as best shown in Figure 6. The end of part 3| is preferablybent over upon itself to form an eye portion 38 (Figure 6) Qlocatedimmediately adjacent the end of housing link IQ. Preferably top portion23 of the housing link is cut out forming an indentation 39 (Figure 1)within which fingerpiece 38 rests.

Referring now to Figures 4 and '1, sliding link rests on top of part 3|as viewed in Figure '1.'4

The sides of sliding link` are bent upwardly and inwardly to form ridgeportions 40 and 4| ntting within channels 28 and 29 respectively (Figure4).

substantially engage side walls 24 and 25, whereas the depth of the` rid`e portions is much less than lindicated at 42. Teeth 42 are in Ilinewith pawl member 31 and consequently longitudinal movement of thesliding .link with respect to the housing link results in an engagementof the'pawl member with the several teeth. However, as best shown inFigure 6, pawl member 31 presents a sloping surface to the teeth whenthe sliding link is moved inwardly and an abrupt surface when anyattempt is made to move the sliding link in the opposite direction.Accordingly the sliding link may move inwardly as the teeth will rideover the pawl member. But when part 3| is in its normal position,longitudinal movement of the sliding link in an outward or extendeddirection is prevented byengagement of one of the teeth with the abruptside of pawl member 31. Should the wearer desire to move the slidinglink outwardly to extend the bracelet, it is merely necessary to movepart 3| against the top of the. housing link by way of ngerpiece 38 todisengage pawl member 31 from the teeth. Preferably the inside end ofsliding link has a lip 43 extending into slot 36 (Figure 2) to serve asa guide during the longitudinal movement of the sliding link Thedimensions of the sliding link are such that the sides of ridge portions40 and 4| within the housing link and also to serve 'as a stop when thesliding link is in its outermost position'.

Links i1, |8 and |9 may be of any desired construction to fit withinhousing link I9 between flange portions. 26 andA 21 (Figure 2).Preferably link i1 is channel shaped in cross section having inwardlyextending flanges 44 and 45 and a pair of ears 46a and 4Gb bridging theend thereof to form a slot 41. Link |8 is slidably mounted within link|1 and has an upturned lip 48 disposed within slot 41 and shaped toengage ear's 46a and 4Gb when link |8 is in extended position. Thus link|8 is free to slide in link |1 within the limits of the length of slot41.

Links i8 and I9 are pivotally connected and link I9 is channel shaped incross section having side walls 49 and 50 extending upwardly as viewedin Figure l. Walls 49 and 50 are provided with longitudinal projections5| and 52 (Figures l and 4) for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

When the wearer desires to fold links l1, I8 and I9 into the nestedposition shown in- Figures 3 and 4, link i8 irst slides into link l1while link I1 is pivoting about pin 35 (Figure 2) and link i9 ispivoting about its hinge connection 53 with link IB. Finally link |1,with link |8 disposed therein, rest's between the flange portions 26 and21 of the housing link and side walls 49 and 5 0 are disposed betweenthe sides of link I1 and the flange portions of the housing link. Flangeportions 26 and 21 are so proportioned that when links l1, i8 and |9 areso folded into the housing Y serting the fingernail beneath a'projection54 extending from the end thereof.

Referring to Figure 4it will now be seen that when links I1, I8 and I9are in the closed or nested position, they are sufficiently spaced abovesliding link 29 so that thi's member is free to slide into extended 'andcontracted positions without hindrance. InA normal use the bracelet,with my unique buckle secured thereto, is rst slipped over the hand ofthe wearer while the buckle is in the extended position shown in Figures1 and 2. Next links l1, I8 and |9 are moved into the nested positionafter which the wearer may geta fine adjustment of the length o f thebracelet by moving the sliding link ineither direction. If

the wearer desires to shorten the bracelet, it is,

merely necessary to move'the sliding link further into the housing linkas the teeth 42 (Figure 6) will ride over pawl member 31. However if thewearer desiresto lengthen Athe bracelet slightly, Ahe can do so-byplacing his fingernail beneath the iingerpiecev 38 and pulling itupwardly as viewed in Figure 1. 'I'his moves pawl member 31 out ofengagement with the teeth so that the sliding link is free to moveoutwardly with re-` spect to the housing link. v

It will thus be seen that my buckle offers a great variation in theadjustment of the length of a bracelet. Furthermore, regardless of theposition of the folding links, the sliding link remains in any desiredposition until changed by the done by actuating the ngerpiece, and it isto be particularly noted that the ilngerpiece is in a very accessibleposition where it may be conveniently operated.' Furthermore, thevarious 75 parts of my buckle are' simple in construction, thus beingeasily manufactured and assembled.

Accordingly `I have provided a thoroughly practical and efiicientconstruction in which the several objects hereinabove mentioned areaccomplished and in which the difficulties herein referred to as well asmany others are successfully eliminated.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. An extensible bucklel comprising, in combination, a housing linkhaving a top and longitudinal side walls, a sliding link member slidablyretained between said walls of said housing link, a movable membersubstantially as long as said housing link pivotally connected to saidhousing link substantially adjacent one end thereof and located betweensaid top of said housing link and said sliding link member, one of saidmembers having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, a pawl connected tothe other of said members, and a nngerpiece secured to said movablemember and located substantially adjacent the end of said housing linkopposite the end thereof to which said movable member is pivoted. v 2.An extensible buckle comprising, in combination, a link, a sliding linkmember mounted on said link'for sliding longitudinal movement relativethereto, a control member extending substantially throughout the lengthof said link, said control member having one end portion anchored tosaid link so that it is movable transversely only with respect to thelongitudinal dimensions of said link, a finger piece on the other endportion oi said control member extending from one end of said link foroperating said control member, one oi. said members having a series ofratchet teeth along a portion of its length and the other of saidmembers having a pawl' thereon, said pawl and said ratchet teeth beingin juxtaposed relationship on said link, so that transverse movement ofsaid nger piece relative to said link separates said pawl and saidratchet teeth whereby said sliding link member is freely slidable onsaid link.

3. An extensible buckle comprising, in combination, a link, a slidinglink member mounted on 1 said link for sliding longitudinal movementrelative thereto, a control member extending substantially throughoutthe length of said link, said control member having one portion pivotedto said link so that itis movable transversely only with respect to thelongitudinal dimensions of said link, a finger piece on the other endportion of said control member extending from one end of said link foroperating said control member, one o! said members having a series ofratchet teeth alongl a portion of its length and the other ci saidmembers having a pawl thereon, said pawl and ratchet teeth being injuxtaposed relationship on said link, so that transverse movement oisaid nnger piece relative to said link separates said pawl and saidratchet teeth whereby said sliding link member is freely slidable onsaid link.

4. An extensible buckle comprising, in combination, a link, a slidinglink member mounted on said link for sliding longitudinal movementrelative thereto, a control `member anchored to said link between thetop side thereof and said sliding movement of said finger piece relativeto said linkseparates said pawl and said ratchet teeth whereby saidsliding link member is freely slidable on said link.

5. An extensible buckle comprising, in combination, a link, a slidinglink member mounted on said link for sliding longitudinal movementrelative thereto, a control member extending substantially throughoutthe length of said link betweenv the top side of said link and saidsliding link member, one end of said control member being connected tosaid link, and the other end thereof being free to move'transverselyonly with respect to the longitudinal dimensions of said link, a ngerpiece secured to the last-mentioned end of said control member andextending from one end of said link for operating said control member,one of said members having a series of ratchet teeth along a portion ofits length and the other of said members having a pawl thereon, saidpawl and said ratchet teeth being in juxtaposed relationship on saidlink-so that transverse movement of said finger piece relative to saidlink separates said pawl and said ratchet teeth whereby said slidinglink member is freely slidable on said link.

6. An extensible buckle for a wrist watch bracelet or the likecomprising, in combination, a housing link having a top and longitudinalside walls, a sliding link member slidingly' retained between said wallsof said housing link, a movable a link,a sliding link member mounted onsaid 'v link for sliding longitudinal movement from one end of saidlink, a control member anchored to said link and movable transversely'only with respect to the longitudinal dimensions or said link, a ngerpiece on one end of said control member extending from said end oi saidlink for operating said control member, one of said members having aseries of ratchet teeth along a portion of its length and the other oisaid members having a payvi thereon, said pawl and said ratchet teethbeing in juxtaposed relation upon said flink so` that transversemovement of said linger piecev relative to said link separates said pawland said ratchet teeth, a series oi folding links pivotally connected tosaid first mentioned link to fold into a nested position with respect tosaid first mentioned link, and catch means associated with'said firstmentioned link and said folding ylinks to hold I said folding links insaid nested position, one end of the bracelet being connected to saidsliding link member and the. other endr ofsaid bracelet being connectedto' said folding links. r

. 8. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a link, a sliding linkmember mounted on said link for sliding longitudinal movement from oneend of said link, a control member anchored to said link and movablesubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of said link, a1inger piece on one end of said control member extending from said endof said link for operating said control member, one of said membershaving a series of ratchet teeth along a portion of its length and theother of said members having a pawl thereon, said pawl and said ratchetteeth being in juxtaposed relation upon said link so that upwardperpendicular movement of said nger piece relative to the plane of saidlink separates said pawl and said ratchet teeth, a series of foldinglinks pivotally connected to saidlrst mentioned link to fold into anested position with respect to said rst mentioned link, and catch meansassociated with 4said rst mentioned link and said folding links to holdsaid folding links in said nested position, one end of the braceletbeing connected to said sliding link member and the other end of saidbracelet being connected to said folding links.

EMIL HAEFFNER.

